The World: Storm in the China Sea

Replete with dueling navies, commando landing parties and sinking
vessels, the scenario that unfolded last week in the South China Sea
recalled gunboat diplomacy of bygone years. The clash was between South
Viet Nam and China over the 50 or so tiny, nearly uninhabited reefs,
shoals and atolls that make up the Paracel archipelago, about 200 miles
east of Viet Nam. For two days the fighting was intense, but the
outcome was never in doubt. Chinese troops claimed the islands last
week in the name of Chairman Mao.